New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Duepetticopi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Duepetticopi’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large dark pink-colored flowers, and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duepetticopi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duepetticopi’.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact New Guinea Impatiens cultivars with large and attractive flowers.

The new New Guinea Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2003 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number F-16-07, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number F-0316-0416, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new New Guinea Impatiens was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new New Guniea Impatiens by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new New Guinea Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duepetticopi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duepetticopi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading growth habit;         mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large dark pink-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more compact than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and the female parent         selection differ in flower color.

Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more compact than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and the male parent         selection differ in flower color.

Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kimpdel,’ disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,567. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differed from plants of ‘Kimpdel’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens were more compact and         had shorter internodes than plants of ‘Kimpdel’.     -   2. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens had smaller leaves         than plants of ‘Kimpdel’.     -   3. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens had smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Kimpdel’.     -   4. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens had longer peduncles         than plants of ‘Kimpdel’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new New Guinea Impatiens, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new New Guinea Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duepetticopi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany, in 12-cm containers and under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures averaging 18° C. and light levels averaging 4,500 lux. Plants had been growing for four months when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetticopi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number F-16-07, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number F-0316-0416, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at             temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at             temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days             at temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit. Freely             branching habit with about seven lateral branches, pinching             is typically not required. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 17 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 13 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode length:             About 2.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright to             outwardly spreading. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 9.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 59B. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 59A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close             to 59A; venation, close to 59A.         -   Petiole.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3.4 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 59A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary             flowers. Freely flowering habit; usually about six open             flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers             positioned above the foliage and typically face upright or             outward. Flowers last about one week under greenhouse             conditions. Petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions. In the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in Germany. Plants begin flowering about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 cm.             Depth: About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Between 59A and 58B.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single             whorl. Length: About 3.6 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm. Shape:             Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate; rounded. Base: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             satiny. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 58C; color becoming closer to 67D with development;             towards the base, close to 57A; basal central spot on banner             petal, close to 155D. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 58C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an             elongated spur. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oval. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A. Spur length: About             5.6 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 3 mm; at apex, less             than 1 mm. Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: Close             to 58A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Moderately strong;             flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 58A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 5 mm. Anther             shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 155B tinted with close             to 61C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 11D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             5.3 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 61A.             Style color: Close to 61A. Ovary color: Close to 59A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     New Guinea Impatiens. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have     observed to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures     ranging from about 8° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetticopi’ as illustrated and described. 